UNICEF delivers 13 infusion pumps to Novi Sad, Kragujevac and Nis

Kragujevac, Novi Sad, Nis, 12 July 2021 - As part of the campaign So Small They Could Fit Inside a Heart, UNICEF today delivered 13 infusion pumps to neonatal units in health care institutions in Serbia. Five pumps were donated to the Institute for Health Protection of Children and Youth of Vojvodina in Novi Sad, five to the Centre for Neonatology of the University Clinical Centre Kragujevac and three to the Clinic for Internal Children's Diseases in Nis. Infusion pumps were provided owing to donations from METRO Cash & Carry Srbija, MOL Serbia and Lidl Srbija.

Infusion pumps are modern medical devices that are used when administering intravenous therapy. Their use enables complete control of the correct dosage of drugs and solutions, which reduces the possibility of errors in therapy and contributes to the improvement of treatment quality, all of which results in faster recovery of patients. These pumps are used in units for intensive care, anaesthesia and general care, when providing care to newborns, children, as well as adult patients.

"At the very beginning of the campaign, the Institute for Health Protection of Children and Youth of Vojvodina received one incubator, and today we received five infusion pumps. In previous years, we received a neonatal ventilator and important support in the organisation of professional training aimed at preserving family-oriented developmental care of premature babies. The support we receive from UNICEF is very important to us because as true partners, they recognise our needs and we work together to build capacity for providing care to newborns at the Institute, which includes ensuring that the baby and mother are in daily contact with the baby’s birth. Equipment is a prerequisite for premature babies to get a chance at life, and professional support in strengthening our capacities gives us opportunities to raise developmental care to the highest level. We owe a debt of gratitude to UNICEF and their partners", said the director of the Institute, Doc. Dr. Jelena Antic.

In Serbia, 65,000 children are born every year, 4,000 of which are premature, and every day another 7 babies require some form of urgent support. Premature birth accounts for more than 60% of newborn deaths in Serbia.

UNICEF launched the So Small They Could Fit Inside a Heart campaign late last year, aimed at additionally equipping neonatal units in Serbia, which will also contribute to the reduction of the mortality of prematurely born babies in the country.

"I would like to thank the companies METRO Cash & Carry Srbija, MOL Serbia and Lidl Srbija, which donated funds for the purchase of 13 infusion pumps for Novi Sad, Kragujevac and Nis. These three companies also provided significant support to UNICEF last year when we procured the necessary medical equipment and supported doctors and medical staff in the fight against the pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus. Common priorities aimed at supporting the most vulnerable babies to survive and reach their optimum potential are the pillars of this strong partnership that has demonstrated its real strength during the greatest crisis. By procuring the necessary equipment and providing systemic support to neonatal intensive care units to reach European standards, we are helping further reduce the mortality of prematurely born babies and create better conditions to stimulate their development, which is a goal we have been working on, with the support of the Ministry of Health, since 2017 ", said Jelena Zajeganovic - Jakovljevic, Health and Early Childhood Development Specialist, UNICEF Serbia.

Owing to the response of 5,100 humane individuals and 239 small and medium-sized enterprises, UNICEF raised 14 million dinars during this campaign, in the period from November 2020 to July this year. The funds enabled the purchase of seven incubators, four of which were delivered to Nis, two to Kragujevac and one to Novi Sad, as well as two therapeutic hypothermia devices for newborns donated to Nis and Belgrade, while Kragujevac recently received two resuscitation tables.

UNICEF continues to procure necessary equipment and support neonatal intensive care units to further reduce premature infant mortality, including the implementation of the family-oriented developmental care principle as a vital step towards improving outcomes in terms of mortality, disease and development of infants born prematurely and with health complications.

UNICEF calls on citizens and the business community to continue to help with their donations, to show all the power of togetherness and to help provide the most vulnerable babies with the best conditions at the start of their life.